Sherwood Park, Alberta – In anticipation of the upcoming school year, the Strathcona County RCMP, along with their enforcement partners, would like to remind Strathcona County drivers that school zone hours in Strathcona County will now be 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days.
This change reflects the importance for motorists to drive with care when children are at school. When children are struck by vehicles, their injuries often result in life threatening or permanent injuries. The faster a vehicle is moving, the greater the impact and the more devastating the results.
All-day school zones will reduce driver confusion around effective hours. They will also provide reduced speed limits on early dismissal days and for rural schools with earlier start and dismissal times.
School zones exist where the yellow school sign is accompanied by a 30 km/h sign. Signage will be installed on all school zone signs in Strathcona County, clearly indicating the new effective hours.
The yellow school sign is sometimes seen without the speed limit posted below it. You will see these signs where schools are located on arterial roads, where the 30 km/h speed limit does not apply. However, caution is still advised.
The speed limit in a playground zone will remain at 30 km/h unless otherwise posted. In addition, a vehicle is not permitted to pass or attempt to pass another vehicle travelling in the same direction from 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset in a playground zone.
The Strathcona County RCMP strives to provide citizens with a safe and secure community. One of their priorities is to improve traffic safety through enforcement and public education. The Strathcona County RCMP and Strathcona County Enforcement Services will be increasing enforcement in school zones early in the school year to remind students and motorists to be careful on the roadways around school and playground zones and to obey the traffic laws.
For more information, see strathcona.ca/schoolsafety